Defending National Champs Announce Fall Schedule
8/29/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The defending national champion University of Michigan softball program announced its fall tournament schedule today (Monday, Aug. 29). The Wolverines' fall practice schedule concludes with the Maize and Blue participating in the 10th annual Elk Rapids Collegiate Softball Tournament (Sept. 24-25) in Elk Rapids, Mich., and hosting the Michigan Softball Fall Invitational (Oct. 2) at Alumni Field, as well as a trip to Lincoln, Neb., to compete in the Nebraska Fall Classic (Oct. 14-16).
Michigan State, Western Michigan and Central Michigan will compete in the Elk Rapids Tournament, while Canisius and Eastern Michigan will play the Wolverines on Alumni Field. Colorado State, Canada and 2005 NCAA Tournament participants Creighton and Nebraska will face the Wolverines in the Nebraska Fall Classic. At the conclusion of the final game of the Michigan Softball Fall Invitational the Diamond Club will host its annual potluck picnic.
The 2005 Wolverines return All-America first team selections Jennie Ritter (Dexter, Mich./Dexter) and Tiffany Haas (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothills) and Women's College World Series Most Outstanding Player Samantha Findlay (Lockport, Ill./East), while All-Big Ten first team honorees Grace Leutele (Sierra Vista, Ariz./Buena) and Alessandra Giampaolo (Pasadena, Calif./Polytechnic) will be back to defend Michigan's crown. All-Big Ten third team selection Stephanie Bercaw (Wooster, Ohio/Hillsdale) rounds out the returning cast of postseason award winners.
2005 Michigan Softball Fall Schedule
| Date | Tournament/Opponent | Site | Time |
| ELK RAPIDS COLLEGIATE SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT | |||
| Sept. 24 | Michigan vs. Michigan State* | Elk Rapids, Mich. | 10:30 a.m. |
| | Michigan vs. Western Michigan* | Elk Rapids, Mich. | Noon |
| | Michigan vs. Central Michigan* | Elk Rapids, Mich. | 2:30 p.m. |
| | *five-inning games | | |
| Sept. 25 | Semifinals | Elk Rapids, Mich. | 10:30 a.m. |
| | Finals/Consolation | Elk Rapids, Mich. | Noon |
| MICHIGAN SOFTBALL FALL INVITATIONAL | |||
| Oct. 2 | Canisius vs. Eastern Michigan | Alumni Field | 10:30 a.m. |
| Michigan vs. Canisius | Alumni Field | 12:30 p.m. | |
| Michigan vs. Eastern Michigan | Alumni Field | 2:30 p.m. | |
| NEBRASKA FALL CLASSIC | |||
| Oct. 14 | Michigan vs. Nebraska | Lincoln, Neb. | 7:30 p.m. CDT |
| Oct. 15 | Michigan vs. Colorado State | Lincoln, Neb. | 10 a.m. CDT |
| | Michigan vs. Nebraska | Lincoln, Neb. | 4 p.m. CDT |
| | Michigan vs. Canada | Lincoln, Neb. | 6 p.m. CDT |
| Oct. 16 | Michigan vs. Creighton | Lincoln, Neb. | Noon CDT |
Contact: Richard Retyi (734) 763-4423
